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LIV Golf stars Garcia and Reed set for International Series Macau

LIV Golf stars Garcia and Reed set for International Series Macau
Sergio Garcia has been confirmed for the 2025 International Series Macau (Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour)
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Updated 18 February 2025
Arab News
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LIV Golf stars Garcia and Reed set for International Series Macau

LIV Golf stars Garcia and Reed set for International Series Macau
  • The Asian Tour event has this year been named as a qualifying pathway event for The Open
Updated 18 February 2025
Arab News
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MACAU: Major champions Sergio Garcia and Patrick Reed are the latest big names confirmed for the International Series Macau presented by Wynn, the elevated Asian Tour tournament that is a qualifying event for The Open this year.

The 2017 and 2018 Masters champions, respectively, will be part of a stellar field at Macau Golf and Country Club from March 20 to 23. The lineup includes defending champion John Catlin, who shot a historic 59 to claim a thrilling playoff victory at the same venue last year.

Spaniard Garcia, captain of the Fireballs GC in the LIV Golf League, will bring his entire team for the second of 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour calendar.

Mexican Abraham Ancer, the LIV Golf Hong Kong 2024 champion, Spaniard David Puig, who lost in the playoff to Catlin last year, and close-season recruit Luis Masaveu will all line up in Macau.

All four Fireballs GC players have shown good form this season, having secured the team title at the recent LIV Golf Adelaide by an emphatic six strokes.  

Hong Kong native Taichi Kho, the 2023 World City Championship winner, is also confirmed as part of a truly international field, with more big names to be revealed soon.

Garcia had an impressive 2024, recording his maiden win in the LIV Golf League at LIV Golf Andalucia, having lost in two playoffs — Mayakoba and Miami — earlier in the season.

The Ryder Cup legend finished third in the league’s overall individual standings, behind Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann.

Reed, who won the famous green jacket at Augusta a year after Garcia in 2018 and lined up against the Spaniard three times in the Ryder Cup, also had an impressive 2024.

The American, who plays for 4Aces GC in the LIV Golf league, stormed to a runaway victory at the Link Hong Kong Open on The International Series, ending a four-year drought.

The Macau contest was recently named as a tournament on The Open Qualifying Series for 2025, with the top three finishers set to earn a coveted spot in the field for this year’s fourth major.

Rahul Singh, head of The International Series, said: “Welcoming a field of this caliber, featuring major champions, LIV Golf stars, and rising talent, takes International Series Macau presented by Wynn to another level.

“The presence of globally recognized players alongside proven winners from The International Series and Asian Tour adds incredible depth to the competition, making this a must-watch event. With so much at stake, including three places in the field for The Open, we’re set for an electrifying week of world-class golf.”

Topics: LIV Golf

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Hovland grabs share of Valspar lead in bid to end PGA title drought

Hovland grabs share of Valspar lead in bid to end PGA title drought
Updated 23 March 2025
AFP
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Hovland grabs share of Valspar lead in bid to end PGA title drought

Hovland grabs share of Valspar lead in bid to end PGA title drought
  • Hovland could see “a lot of good” after posting three birdies and a bogey to join Colombian Nico Echavarria and American Jacob Bridgeman atop the leaderboard on seven-under 206
  • Bridgeman, seeking his first win in his second full season on the tour, started the day with a one-shot lead and kept himself atop the board with a 1-under 70
Updated 23 March 2025
AFP

MIAMI GARDENS, Florida: Viktor Hovland carded a 2-under par 69 on Saturday to grab a share of the 54-hole lead at the Valspar Championship, where the Norwegian is gunning for his first US PGA Tour title since 2023.

Hovland, who arrived at the Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida this week off three straight missed cuts, says he’s still battling the inconsistency that has seen him make five coaching changes as he slumped from fourth in the world to 19th.

But he could see “a lot of good” after posting three birdies and a bogey to join Colombian Nico Echavarria and American Jacob Bridgeman atop the leaderboard on seven-under 206.

“It’s fun to be in contention, but it is a little bit more stressful when you don’t feel super comfortable over the ball,” Hovland said. “But, man, it’s fun to see some putts go in and still see the ball end up close to the hole and put some good scores up there.

“Still feels like saving a lot of shots, but they’re going fairly straight so it’s OK,” added Hovland, who is chasing his first title since he won the Tour Championship in 2023 — when he claimed three of his six PGA victories and captured the FedEx Cup crown.

Echavarria, chasing a third PGA title, rebounded from a 1-over par 72 on Friday with a bogey-free 5-under par 66, making five of his six birdies n the back nine.

“I gave myself a lot of looks,” Echavarria said. “I was leaving a couple birdie putts short on the front nine. I got the speed right on the back nine, made a lot of good putts coming in.”

Bridgeman, seeking his first win in his second full season on the tour, started the day with a one-shot lead and kept himself atop the board with a 1-under 70 that featured four bogeys and five birdies.

“I had fun today,” the 25-year-old said. “I was navigating a lot of the course. I seemed to find some spots that I had never see before, so that was fun. I scrambled well.”

Bridgeman said swirling winds in the afternoon made for uncertainty on many shots while the wind-dried greens “were getting a little bit crusty.”

The leading trio were one stroke in front of American Ricky Castillo, who carded a 68, while a big group on 208 included major winners Justin Thomas and Shane Lowry.

Ireland’s Lowry had a frustrating day on the greens on the way to a 1-under 70 but said he was right in the hunt.

“I can’t remember the last time I hit so many good putts that burned the edge,” he said. “I did hit it probably a little bit too far away from the hole today ... but I just feel like I didn’t get rewarded at all.

“(But) I know if I can go out and shoot in the mid 60s (Sunday) that something could happen.”

Topics: Valspar Championship US PGA Tour Viktor Hovland

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McIlroy wins Players Championship title in playoff

McIlroy wins Players Championship title in playoff
Updated 17 March 2025
AFP
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McIlroy wins Players Championship title in playoff

McIlroy wins Players Championship title in playoff
  • Spaun, whose recovery out of the bunker left him with a long, unsuccessful birdie putt, could only par
Updated 17 March 2025
AFP

MIAMI: Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy cruised to a St. Patrick’s Day victory at the Players Championship on Monday, defeating J.J. Spaun in a playoff at TPC Sawgrass.

The four-time major champion completed the three-hole shootout in 1-over par, while Spaun’s challenge wilted after a disastrous triple-bogey on the second playoff hole.

McIlroy had finished tied at the top of the leaderboard with Spaun following Sunday’s storm-hit final round after failing to hold on to a three-shot lead with five holes to play.

But after returning to the course on Monday in bright, breezy conditions, there was no sign of a repeat of the late stumble by McIlroy on Sunday that had allowed Spaun to force his way into the first playoff of his career.

McIlroy struck first on the opening playoff hole, the par-five 16th, crushing a 336-yard drive straight down the fairway before reaching the green in two.

Spaun,meanwhile, looked out of sorts from the get-go, finding the fairway rough off the tee before landing his second shot into the greenside bunker.

McIlroy failed to make his 33-foot eagle putt but calmly rolled in an awkward five-footer for birdie.

Spaun, whose recovery out of the bunker left him with a long, unsuccessful birdie putt, could only par.

After that early wobble, things got worse for Spaun at the par-3 17th island hole, with the American plunging his tee-shot into the water behind the green.

Spaun then missed a long 10-foot putt for double bogey and eventually finished with a triple-bogey six.

While McIlroy missed his birdie chance and a 10-footer to save par, his bogey four still left him three shots clear heading to the 18th.

McIlroy’s tee-shot on the last went well wide of the right fairway, but Spaun was unable to exert pressure, also going wide of the fairway.

Both players reached the green in three and missed their par putts. McIlroy coolly tapped in for bogey to seal victory.

Topics: The Players Championship Rory McIlroy J.J. Spaun

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Rory McIlroy and J.J. Spaun tie at The Players Championship to set up Monday playoff

Rory McIlroy and J.J. Spaun tie at The Players Championship to set up Monday playoff
Updated 17 March 2025
AP
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Rory McIlroy and J.J. Spaun tie at The Players Championship to set up Monday playoff

Rory McIlroy and J.J. Spaun tie at The Players Championship to set up Monday playoff
  • The Players has a three-hole aggregate playoff on the most dynamic holes on the TPC Sawgrass — the par-5 16th, the island green on the par-3 17th and the daunting par-4 closing hole
  • It will be the first Monday finish since Cameron Smith won in 2022 and the first playoff at The Players since Rickie Fowler won 10 years ago
Updated 17 March 2025
AP

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida: Rory McIlroy built a three-shot lead on the back nine at The Players Championship and unheralded J.J. Spaun didn’t blink. They wound up tied after a four-hour rain delay and had to return Monday for a playoff to decide the richest tournament in golf.

McIlroy needed two putts from 75 feet on the par-4 18th for a 4-under 68. All he could do was wait in the scoring area on Spaun, who had caught up with a marvelous chip on the par-5 16th and stood over a 30-foot putt for the win.

It stopped inches short, giving Spaun a 72 to match McIlroy at 12-under 276.

They did well to finish in regulation before sunset. The Players has a three-hole aggregate playoff on the most dynamic holes on the TPC Sawgrass — the par-5 16th, the island green on the par-3 17th and the daunting par-4 closing hole.

It will be the first Monday finish since Cameron Smith won in 2022 and the first playoff at The Players since Rickie Fowler won 10 years ago.

“I’m standing here feeling like I should be going home with the trophy today,” McIlroy said. “But it’s all right. I’ll reset and try to go home with the trophy tomorrow.”

Tom Hoge had to wait out the four-hole delay with a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th. He returned and missed, posting a 66 and wound up two shots behind. Lucas Glover rallied from a rough front nine for a 71 and joined Hoge and Akshay Bhatia (70).

Bud Cauley, whose thought his career was over from crushing injuries in a 2018 car crash in Ohio, fell back early and steadied himself for a 74. He tied for sixth, giving him more than enough points to fulfill his medical exemption for the rest of the year.

McIlroy faced a four-shot deficit going into the final round and roared into contention with an 8-foot birdie putt and beautiful long iron to 10 feet for eagle on the par-5 second. He took the lead for the first time when Spaun made bogey on the seventh hole.

Spaun caught a big break on the ninth hole when his second shot was in the collar of deep rough. He got relief from standing on a sprinkler head, then more relief when his drop was in the sprinkler head, leading to a clean lie. He chipped to 6 feet for birdie.

Still, McIlroy appeared to start pulling away right before and after the four-hour delay from a band of thunderstorms moving across north Florida.

He holed a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-5 11th to reach 12 under. Spaun, playing in the group behind him, was in trouble in a bunker well short of the green.

Four hours later, McIlroy made a 15-foot birdie on the 12th, while Spaun barely got the bunker shot on the green and three-putted for bogey from some 70 feet.

Just like that, McIlroy was three shots clear and Spaun appeared rattled, missing birdies chances from the 12-foot range on consecutive holes. And then it became tight again.

“Once that bogey kind of hit me, I just tried to just fight back,” Spaun said. “I kind of went with the odds. I had nothing to lose. Now I’m trying to catch Rory, and I can’t really control what he does, but I can control what I do, and I just started committing to my shots and my swing and trusting it more.

“When I’m hunting, it’s easier to let it go. Whereas, starting the round I was a little tentative, a little scared and stuff,” he said. “I think it put me in a pretty comfortable spot to finish off the round.”

McIlroy fanned a drive well right on the 14th, couldn’t reach the green, hit wedge to 15 feet and powered it through the break for only his second bogey of the round. The one-quarter inch of rain softened the green. The 15 mph wind all but vanished. The Stadium course was vulnerable.

McIlroy, however, missed a birdie chance from just inside 6 feet on the 15th and didn’t judge the rain-softened speed of the green on the par-5 16th, missing a 12-foot birdie. Behind him, Spaun threw a dart to a foot on the 14th for birdie, and chipped tight at the 16th for a birdie that tied him for the lead.

Both found land on the island at the 17th — McIlroy against the collar for an awkward stab at his 15-foot birdie attempt, Spaun lagging beautifully from 45 feet on a putt that is slow up the slope and races to the pin.

Danny Walker, who has lived in the area the last few years and only got in as an alternate Thursday morning when Jason Day withdrew with illness, shot 70 and tied for sixth with Cauley and Corey Conners (71)

Two-time defending champion Scottie Scheffler was never really in the mix. He went 15 straight holes without a birdie between the third and fourth rounds, made only one birdie on Sunday and closed with a 73 to tie for 20th.

“Being able to repeat here was very special and I would have liked to have done it a third time,” Scheffler said. “At the end of the day, I just didn’t have what it took this week. The guys that are ahead of me on the leaderboard — there’s many of them, so they obviously played better than I did.”

Topics: The Players Championship Rory McIlroy J.J. Spaun

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Fireballs continue dominance as Niemann claims second LIV Golf victory of season in Singapore

Fireballs continue dominance as Niemann claims second LIV Golf victory of season in Singapore
Updated 16 March 2025
Arab News
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Fireballs continue dominance as Niemann claims second LIV Golf victory of season in Singapore

Fireballs continue dominance as Niemann claims second LIV Golf victory of season in Singapore
  • Dramatic comeback extends Fireballs’ winning streak to three consecutive events
  • Niemann’s win propels him to top of the Individual Champion points standings
Updated 16 March 2025
Arab News

SINGAPORE: Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs GC extended their winning streak to three consecutive events with a dramatic comeback at LIV Golf Singapore on Sunday, while Joaquin Niemann secured his second individual title of the season with a commanding five-shot victory at Sentosa Golf Club.

The Fireballs’ triumph marks the longest team winning streak since 4Aces GC won four straight during the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series in 2022.

They will now look to match that record at LIV Golf Miami on April 4-6.

“We’re the only ones that can keep the streak alive,” said Fireballs captain Garcia. “Hopefully, we’ll keep it going.”

Niemann, the 26-year-old Chilean and Torque GC captain, delivered the only bogey-free round of the day, shooting a six-under 65 to finish at 17 under par. His dominant performance not only secured his second win in three events but also propelled him to the top of the Individual Champion points standings, putting him in prime position for the LIV Golf exemption into this year’s US Open.

“Today was one of those days,” Niemann said. “Everything went my way.”

The battle for the title was expected to be between Niemann and Dustin Johnson, but the much-anticipated duel never materialized. Johnson, the 4Aces GC captain, struggled with four bogeys in a two-over 73, dropping into a tie for fifth place at nine under.

Instead, defending Singapore champion Brooks Koepka emerged as Niemann’s closest competitor, matching his six-under 65 to finish solo second at 12 under.

“Not really hitting it great,” Koepka said. “But kind of tried to figure out how to finish second because first was obviously out of reach.”

The Fireballs’ victory was particularly impressive considering Garcia battled bronchitis throughout the week, managing only an even-par total. Despite his struggles, his teammates stepped up to erase an eight-shot deficit in the final round.

David Puig led the charge with a five-under 66, finishing solo fourth at 10 under, while Luis Masaveu (68) and Abraham Ancer (69) helped the team to a 10-under aggregate score on Sunday, tying for the lowest of the day.

“This week was a tough week because I’ve been sick all week and haven’t been able to help the team as much as I would have liked to,” Garcia said. “To see the performance that my teammates put in to be able to get this win was pretty impressive.”

Puig, 23, now boasts a record eight LIV Golf team victories, the most of any player, having won four times with Torque GC in 2023 before joining the Fireballs this season.

“I love team golf,” Puig said. “I think I’m a good team player. I like to be surrounded by a good group of guys, and I have them here at the Fireballs. I just have a lot of fun, and I never give up, and I just love it.”

With two wins in the first four events of 2024, Niemann has reasserted himself as the dominant force in LIV Golf, reclaiming the top spot in the season standings from Legion XIII captain Jon Rahm.

“There’s a few things that I can improve, then go down to Miami and have a chance to win,” Niemann said. “I feel like that for me is really exciting to become a better player and try to get better every day.”

With the Fireballs chasing history and Niemann eyeing further success, all eyes will now turn to LIV Golf Miami next month to see if the streak continues.

Topics: golf LIV Golf Singapore LIV Golf Singapore Joaquin Niemann Sergio Garcia

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4Aces take LIV Golf Singapore team lead after Johnson’s 8-under 63

4Aces take LIV Golf Singapore team lead after Johnson’s 8-under 63
Updated 14 March 2025
Arab News
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4Aces take LIV Golf Singapore team lead after Johnson’s 8-under 63

4Aces take LIV Golf Singapore team lead after Johnson’s 8-under 63
  • Johnson has won once in each of LIV Golf’s first three seasons and can become the first player to win in all four seasons
  • “I couldn’t turn my head to the right,” Johnson explained
Updated 14 March 2025
Arab News

SINGAPORE: 4Aces GC Captain Dustin Johnson is back to full strength — and back at the top of the leaderboard.
Johnson leads LIV Golf Singapore presented by Aramco by three shots after a bogey-free 63 in Friday’s opening round at Sentosa Golf Club. His 8-under round matches his best single-round LIV Golf performance, relative to par, in 109 career regular-season rounds.
His 4Aces, seeking their first win since 2023, lead the team competition by two strokes over Torque GC.
A week ago in Hong Kong, the 40-year-old Johnson woke up prior to the first round with a sore right shoulder that limited his range of motion. He shot rounds of 75 and 72 to drop to last place after the first two days.
“I couldn’t turn my head to the right,” Johnson explained. “I kind of just pulled when I was on the through swing, so I was hitting everything left. It wasn’t a whole lot of fun.”
He received treatment between rounds and his body finally responded prior to Sunday’s final round. He shot a 6-under 64, tying for the third-best score of the day, but the leaderboard damage had been done, as he finished last for the first time at a LIV Golf tournament.
Feeling good about his game entering last week, Johnson said it was easy to dismiss the first two rounds and the final result because of the injury.
“Swung it really nicely on Sunday,” he said. “Obviously, the body loosened back up and I could hit the shots that I wanted.”
In shooting 63 at Sentosa’s Serapong course on Friday, Johnson hit 16 greens, tying for best in the field, and missed just three fairways. Meanwhile, his putter heated up, especially at the par-3 14th when he rolled in a birdie putt from 58 feet.
“I put a lot of work in the last couple of days on the putter,” Johnson said, “and it paid off.”
Johnson will enter the weekend seeking his fourth league individual title. He has won once in each of LIV Golf’s first three seasons and can become the first player to win in all four seasons.
His closest pursuer is Torque’s Sebastian Munoz, who continues to push for his first LIV Golf title. Munoz shot a 5-under 66 to take solo second. He has held or shared second after five of the first 10 rounds of the 2025 LIV Golf season.
“I don’t know if I’m going to get it done this week, but I’m working hard at it,” Munoz said. “I want that opportunity again.”
Eight players are tied for third after shooting 4-under 67, including five team captains: Jon Rahm (Legion XIII), Brooks Koepka (Smash GC), Joaquin Niemann (Torque GC), Louis Oosthuizen (Stinger GC) and Cameron Smith (Ripper GC).
Rahm is the reigning LIV Golf Individual Champion and Niemann already has a win this season. Koepka is the defending Singapore champion while Smith tied for second with teammate Marc Leishman as the Rippers won the team title in 2024.
The 4Aces shot a collective 14 under, while Torque is at 12 under. Phil Mickelson’s HyFlyers GC are another two strokes back, with all four of their players shooting in the 60s. Not only do the Aces have a lengthy winning drought, Torque also hasn’t won since 2023, while the HyFlyers have yet to win a team trophy.
“We’ve got a lot of golf to play in the next two days,” Niemann said. “We’re excited to see what’s coming.”
Team scores
LIV Golf’s new scoring format this season now involves all four scores now counting in every round in the team competition. (Click here for more on the new format). Here are the results and scores for each team after Friday’s Rd. 1 of LIV Golf Singapore.
1. 4ACES GC -14 (Johnson 63, Reed 68, Varner III 69, Pieters 70)
2. TORQUE GC -12 (Munoz 66, Niemann 67, Ortiz 68, Pereira 71)
3. HYFLYERS GC -10 (Tringale 67, Mickelson 69, Ogletree 69, Steele 69)
4. FIREBALLS GC -7 (Ancer 67, Puig 68, Masaveu 70, Garcia 72)
T5. STINGER GC -5 (Oosthuizen 67, Schwartzel 68, Burmester 70, Grace 74)
T5. LEGION XIII -5 (Rahm 67, Surratt 68, Hatton 70, McKibbin 74)
7. RIPPER GC -3 (Smith 67, Herbert 68, Jones 72, Leishman 74)
T8. RANGEGOATS GC -2 (Uihlein 68, Campbell 68, Watson 70, Wolff 76)
T8. IRON HEADS GC -2 (Lee 68, Catlin 70, Jang 72, Na 72)
10. SMASH GC -1 (Koepka 67, Kokrak 68, Gooch 70, McDowell 78)
11. CRUSHERS GC +1 (Casey 67, Lahiri 70, DeChambeau 74, Howell III 74)
12. MAJESTICKS GC +8 (Stenson 71, Westwood 72, Horsfield 73, Poulter 76)
13. CLEEKS GC +10 (Meronk 70, Bland 71, Kaymer 73, Kjettrup 80)
Wild Cards: Lee 70, Kim 73

Topics: 4Aces GC Dustin Johnson LIV Golf

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